Ruling apparatus



` Dec. 7 1926. 1,609,648

H; E. LINDBLADH RULING APPARATUS Filed August E. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l A Tramw- Y.

Dec. 7 1926.

H. E. LNDBLADH RULING APPARATUS S, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed August WKN A 7 MHA/.5x-

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PA'I'lezNTA oF/FICE'.

` HARMON E LNDBLADI-I, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIND- i BLADE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

RULING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 3, 1923. Serial 110,655,536.

In my application Serial No. 501,227, filed September 17, 1921,. is disclosed a duplex ruling machine consisting of two ruling apparatus arranged to operate successively upon sheets and produce 'upon them, by sets of pens or other ruling devices, corresponding sets of intersecting lines. lWith each set of pens is an associated controlling device, in the-form of a gate, by which the sheets are released at predetermined times, to be acted upon byV the pens. In these ruling apparatus, the pens and gates are movable, and -are provided in each apparatus` with actuating mechanism` preferably7 furnished by cams rotatable with ashaft. which causes the pens and gate to be raised and lowered in timed relation. to vary, in any desiredA manner, the. terminal-points y,of the lines ruled. Between the apparatus the sheets pass through a transfer' mechanism, which receives and delivers them in time with the operation of the pens and gates by the cams. To assure thc correct striking of the pens, or their removal from and return to the work at chosen points, the camshafts of the'two apparatus and the transfer mechanism. but especially the former, must be actuated in synchronism. In the previously-mentiqned machine, this action is attained by applying power from a suitable source to the cam-shaft ofthe first apparatus, gearing this to the transfer mechanism. and again gearing the: latter to the cam-shaft of the second ruling apparatus.

While such an operation is entirely correct in theory, the long train of gearlng between the power-source and the last ruling. apparatus tends to-introduce diiiculties.' vThere is a cumulative backlash in the multiple upon one by one by a ruling apparatus, it has been customary to drive the feeding elements from the sheet-conveying system of the ruling apparatus. When, in the control of a ruling apparatus to adapt it to operate lili` conveying s vstem of the ruling apparatus' and the fee-ding mechanism. so that a sheet shall be delivered for each operation of such ruling apparatus. .sion in the feeder equipment of an expensive set of some twenty-five gears, andv throws upon the operator the burden of making a double gear-shift when the sheet-dimensions change. In addition to this, in a duplex ruling machineof the character of that herein 'describe-d, since the alteration in the sheetsize is in part provided for by a change in the rate of travel of the conveying system at the first apparatus, the gearing change between the conveying system and the feeding mechanism ceases to be identi- This compels the inclui cal with that between said system and the cam-shaft, but assumes acomplicatedf maintain the surface of the workin proximity to the pens at a constant level, so that the lines produced by `said pens will agree with the setting of their actuating means.

One of the several forms which my invention may assume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 showing an elevation of `a duplex ruling machine, looking at. the side of the first apparatus, and includ-A ing the feeding mechanism, parts being broken away and omitted; Fig. 2, an end` elevation ofthe'first ruling apparatus and a side elevation of the second, together with the connecting transfer mechanism, here parts also being broken and omitted: and Fig. 3, a perspective `view of the pressurefingers associated with the pens.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings.

The duplex machine shown is made up of a ruling apparatus A, which first acts upon the sheets, and a second apparatus B extending generally at right angles to the apparatus A and arranged to produce lines intersecting those formed thereby. Transfer mechanism C changes the direction of travel of the sheets, so that, after leaving the apparatus A, they properly enter apparatus B` The structural details of the ruling apparatus and transfer mechanism in no way concern the present invention, so nothing more than a brief outline of the elements will be given. In a frame 10 of the apparatus A is` mounted for independent movement, as in VPatent No. 1,242,823, a set of pens 12 operating over a sheet-conveying cloth or endless webA 14, receiving its Amotion from the lower of a pair of feed-rolls 16, 16 journaled horizontally in the rear portion of the frame. These rolls receive the sheets fed between them, and advance them to the conveyor which carries them beneath the pens.' The pens are raised from and returned into contact with the sheets upon the conveyor by actuating mechanism including series 17 of levers operated by cams 18 supported by a shaft 20 rotatable upon standards rising from the opposite sides of the frame 10 just in advance of the rolls 16. Operating to the rear of the pens, here shown as beneath the cam-shaft, is an oscillatory gate 22, which alternately stops and releases the sheets as they are brought to it by the conveyor, determining the time at which they are delivered to the pens. This gate 1s preferably operated by a lever 19 under the linfluence of a cam 21 upon the shaft 20.

As to the just-described elements, the ruling apparatus B may be identical with A.

The transfer mechanism C may include conveyor-tapes 24 receiving the ruled sheets from the conveyingosystem of the apparatus A at its. lower forward portion, and bringing them under the infiuence of revoluhle transfer-sectors 26 carried upon a shaft 28 journaled at one side-of the frame l() of ap- .paratus A. The sectors thrust the sheets upon upwardly inclined tapes 30 extending at right angles to the tapes 24 and traveling in a frame 32. This frame connects the main frames 10, 10 of apparatus A and B, and is so located that the tapes 30 deliver the sheets to the rolls 16, 16 of the latter.

LMounted to turn in bearings in the frame 0f apparatus A is a horizontal shaft 40 con-A nected to a.source of power, as an electric motor 42, by Vtransmission-gearing 44 governed by a shifting device 46. 'lhe'purpose of this gearing le is to change the ,rate of operation of the entire duplex machine so that it will act upon a greater or less number of sheets in a given time.` Mounted to rotate in the frame of apparatus B and lying in the same horizontal plane as vthe shaft 40, to which it is joined by eq ual-ratio bevelgearing 48, is a shaft 50. The shaft 40 is connected directly to the cam-shaft 20 of apparatus A by change-speed gearing 52, while shaft 5() has like connections to the calnshaft of apparatus B through change-speed gearing 54. Both the shafts Ll0 and 50 carry no operating elements, acting to supply power only, and being so located upon the frame that the bearings may be ample and the shaft of any suitable size to resist torsion under the maximum load. Moreover, from this system of shafting, which is unvarying in action throughout because of the single bevel-gear connection at 48, motion is imparted to the two cam-shafts of the ruling apparatus A and B through short trains,

of iniexible gearing, wholly independent ot each other, so there is none of the uncertainty of action produced by\ chain-drive .and passing from one train of gearing to another. 'lhere results unvarying synchronism between the cam-shafts' ofthe two apparatus, with ability to so set the actuating mechanism of the pens that those of the secondV apparatus B will strike precisely with reference to the lines produced by the apparatus A. rlhe change-speed gearing 52 and 54 gives simple and effective. means for maintaining this synchronism when changes are made for ruling sheets of ditl'erent maximum dimensions. That is` assuming that cross-ruling, or that extending transversely of the sheets, is to be done upon the apparatus A, and down-ruling, or that lyingloirl gitudinally of the sheets, upon the apparatus B, it' a. sheet of a different length is to be operated upon, this will he provided for by a suitable shift in'the gearing 54. Then. upon making the same change in the gearing 52, there will be a maintenance ofsynchronism, which permits accurate setting of the actuating mechanisms at the two apparatus to insure precision in the relation between the lines ruled by the two sets ot' pens.

lt is to be noted, however, that with adjustments of this character. when the sheets are other than square, with the transverse dimension less than the longitudinal, these would beso released by the gates that they would be more widely spaced in the apparatus A than in apparatus B. For example, if the sheets were 28 x 28" and the gearing 52 and 54 were set to cause the gates 22 ,to release these to give the desired spacing of about a half an inch between the successivey sheets, then if a sheet 28" x 1T were to be Htl lll)

operated upon, the -spac'e between the sheets in the apparatus A would become eleven and a half inches. This would be inefficientv feed-rolls 16 and the conveyor-cloth driven thereby of apparatus B are operated through constant-speed gearing 56, these 1napparatus A receive their travel from change-speed gearing 58. By a suitable shift 1 in the gear-ratio, the travel of the sheets through the first apparatus may be slowed to any desired extent, and they may be brought, upon their release by the gate, to

within the desired half-inch of each other. The feed-roll-gearing 56 and 58, it will be seen, is driven directly from the powershafts and 50, and while the consequent freedom from the effect of backlash and torsion does not improve the vaccuracy of striking of the pens, since this'is obtained from the perfectly synchronized cam-shafts 20, 20, it gives an exceedingly compact and eicient system of connections which introduces practically no maintenance cost.

' To synchronize therotation of the shaft of sectors 26 with the cam-shafts, so such sectors will'unfailingl deliver al sheet for, each operation of the pens of apparatus B,

it is effectively driven from the cam-shaft ofc,y apparatus A through bevel-gearing arcting upon `a vertical shaft 62 rotatable in the frame of this apparatus, and which, in

turn, communicates motion by bevel-gearing 64 to a horizontal shaft66K extending longitudinally of this frame. Sprocket-gearing 68, including a short chain, joins the shaft 66 to the sector-shaft. t Here the drive canlnot be from the {power-shafts 40 and`50, on

account of the necessary gear-changes hetween said shafts and the cam-shafts, which would destroy the constant time-relation between the cam-shafts and sector-shaft. The mlnor'irregularities of action of the sectors introduced by the" backlash of the longer chain of gearingdo not affect the perfection of the striking of the pens at apparatus B, it being only necessary -that the sheet reach the gate .22 .of such apparatus in time for retention and release for each turn of the cam-shaft. I

Delivering to thefeed-rolls 16,16 and'co operating conveyor 14 of the ruling apparatus A is a feeding mechanism D, the function ofwhich isJto supply-sheets successively to receive the action vof the pens 12 of apparatus lA. This feeding mechanism must be so timed as to place under the conrtrol of the .gate 22 a sheet for each gateoperation and consequently` keach group of pen-movements.. The feeder is shown las of the type ,disclosed in my vPatent No. 1,258,026, March 5, 1918, sois illustrated lonly in its more essential particulars. table 70 is-arranged to support a pile of sheets S, raised and lowered automatically to maintain the upper sheet-of the' pile at the level fromwhich delivery is to beetfected. Cooperating xvith the table is a reciprocatory presser-footV or member 72 for temporarily retaining the pile of 'sheets' when the upper one isbei'ng acted upon by a revoluble device 74, which successively moves over one another or fans out and then advancesV or, feeds said sheets, Upon the'feedingI action of the device 74, it delivers the sheets sucV- cessively to a conveyor 76, which may befurnished by endless tapes, these, in turn, advancing said sheets`to the feeding .rolls 16, 16 and thecloth 14 of ruling apparatus A. vTo maintain synchronism between the feeder and ruling apparatus, the device 74 must effect delivery for each operation of the cam-shaft 20. The conveyor 76.- however, .preferably travels at substantially the same rate as the feeding elements 16 andY 14 of apparatus A, so that the uniform ad. vance of the sheets at the rate which gives the proper spacing during the ruling opera- Ation is obtained. This I accomplish by joinlng the delivery device 74, and the presserfoot 72 which operates in timed relation with it, to the cam-shaft 20 of the apparatus A by equal-ratio gearing. A suitable arrangement is furnished by sprocket-gearing 78 connecting the cam-'shaft .20 to an idler shaft 80, sprockehgearing 82 joining this shaft toa shaft 84 of the feeder. The devices. 72 andy 74 are operated from the shaft 84 through sprocket-gearing 86.l Therefore, the desired constant timing between they delivery deviceJo-f the feeder and the cam-shaft of apparatus A is'maintained,

'irrespective of changes in the gearing at the of the ruling apparatus, they may have por- ,tions which, due to moisture or other causes,

are buckled, so that they are elevatedabove the general plane of the sheets. Obviously,

'these higher" indeterminate portions will Contact with thepens before the points for which the machineis set, and thus destroy l the true striking relation. `This 1 overcome by providing pressure members, in the form 'of spring-fingers 90 and 92. These 'fingers are associated in sets with each of the sets of pens, each set of fingers being mounted upon a support, which is illustrated as a cylindrical rod 94 fixed at its ends in bracketsrising from the sides of the frame 10. Each finger is shown as carried by a holder 9G having a portion surrounding the rod and a laterally projecting portion divided at 98. The finger may be inserted in the divided portion, and clamped in place by a set-screw 100.. A set-screw 102, threaded through the holder at the side opposite the portion 98, engages the rod to maintain the holder in any position to which it may be adjuserl, either transversely of the machine or angularly about the rod. The first movement permits the finger to be brought more or less closely into alinement with the pen with which it is to co-operate, While the movement about the rod acts to vary the pressure of the finger upon the sheet. The fingers 90, which are associated with the vfirst Yset of pens, their forward ends lying just at the rear ot these, are preferably of substantial Width, being of sheet metal. These contact with a considerable width ot the sheet lateral, and are especially adapted ior use with multiple pens used for ruling'closely placed lines, as is illustrated at lO-l. The fingers 92 are of a different character from those numbered 90, being narrower and formed of rather slender Vround wire. This is because when thesheets have reached the second set of pens with which these fingers co-operate, they have upon their surfaces lines of wet ink ruled by the first pen-set, with which the fingers 92 must be arranged out of contact. In either case, these fingers force the elevated portions of the sheets down into parallelism with the conveyor 18 and in alinement with the general surfaces of the sheets, so that the pens will strike accurately in accordance with their settings.

I claim: s

1. In a ruling machine, a pluralityof sets of movable ruling devices, actuating mechanism for each set of ruling devices, driving means, and positive continuously acting connections from the driving means to each actuating mechanism, each of said connections being individual to an actuating mechanism.

2. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of movable ruling devices, actuating mechanism for each set of ruling devices, driving means, continuously acting connections from the driving means to each actuating mechanism, each of said connections being individual to an actuating mechanism,'

and means included in the connections for varying the action of the actuating mechanism,

3. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of movable" ruling devices, mechanism including rotatable actuating means for cach set of ruling devices, driving means,

aeoaeee connections from the driving means to each actuating mechanism, each of said connections being individual to an actuating mechanism, and means included in the connec-` tions between the drivingmechanism .and cach actuating mechanism for varying the action of such actuating mechanisms.

4. In a ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices, a movable Work-controlling device co-operating With each ruling device, act11at1ng`mecha1iism for eacn Worxcontrolling Vdevice, driving means, and connections from the driving means to each actuating mechanism, each of said connections being individual to an actuating mechanism.

5. In a ruling machine, a plurality of movable ruling devices, a movable workcontrolling device co-operating with each ruling device, actuating mechanism for each ruling device and itsl Work-controlling device, driving means, and connections from the driving means to each actuating mechanlsm, each of said connections being individual to an actuating mechanism. p

6. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets ot ruling devices, actuating mechanism for each set of ruling devices, mea ns for advancing work to each set of ruling devices, driving means, and connections from the driving means to each advancing means, each of said connections being individual to an advancing means. r

7. In a ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices, actuating mechanism for each ruling device, means for advancing Work to each ruling device, driving means, connections rom the driving means to each advancing means, each of said connections being individual to an advancing means, and means included in the connections for varying the, action of the advancing means.

8. In a ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices, actuating mechanism for each ruling device, means for advancing Work to each ruling device, driving means, connections from the driving means to each actuating mechanism independent of the associated actuating mechanism, and .connections from the driving means to each advancing means, each of said connections being individual to an advancing means.

9. In a duplex rulingmachine, a plurality of ruling lapparatus each provided with a movable set of ruling devices, a cam-shaft for actuating each set vof ruling devices, a systemof power-shating for establishing -driving connection between the plurality of apparatus, and-gearing connecting the power-shafting to each cam-shaft.

l0. In a duplex ruling machine, a plurality of ruling apparatus each provided with a movable set of pens, a cam-shaft for actuating each set of pens, a system of power-shafting for establishing driving conl rality of ruling apparatus each provided train of gearing connecting each driving 70 with a movable set of pens, a movable gate shaft to a cam-shaft, and a train of gearing associated with each set ofpens, a. camconnecting each'driving shaft to a conveyor, shaft for' actuating each set of pens and its the gearing between the driving shafts and gate, a system of power-shafting for estabcam-shafts and between the driving Jshaft l lishing driving connection between the pluand one of the conveyors being of the 75 rality ofl apparatus,'and gearing `connecting change-speed type. the shafting to each cam-shaft. A 18. In a duplex ruling machine, 'a plu- 12. In a duplex ruling machine, a plu- :rality of ruling apparatus including sets of Jrality of ruling yapparatus each provided movable ruling devices, actuating mechanism with a movable set of pens, a cam-shaft for for each set of ruling devices, transfer mech- 80 actuating each set of pens, a conveyor for' anism'betwe'en the plural ruling apparatus.l

' deliveringsheets to each set-of pens, a sysdriving means, separate connections 'from tem of power-shafting for establishing drivthe driving means tothe actuating mecha-- ing connection betweenthe plurality of apnisms, and connections -to an actuating mechl. paratus, gearing connecting the poweranism for'operating the transfer mechanism. 35 ,shafting to each cam-shaft, and gearing con- 19. In a duplex ruling machine, a pluralnectin the power-shaftingto each conveyor. ity of ruling appara-tus includin sets of 13. n a duplex ruling machine, a plumovable ruling devices,'a cam-sha for acrality of. ruling apparatus each provided tuating each set of ruling devices, transfer with a movable set of pens?,` a cam-shaft for mechanism between the plural ruling appa- 90 actuating each setl of pens, a conveyor for ratus, a drivin shaft, separate gearingcondelivering sheets to each set of pens, a sysnecting the driving shaft to each cam-shaft, tem of power-shafting for establishing drivand gearing toa cam-shaft for operating the ing connection between the pluralityof aptransfer mechanism. Y v 0 paratus, gearing connectin the powershaft' Y 20. In a duplex ruling machine, a plural- 95 nection between the plurality of apparatus, and `change-speed gearing connecting the power-shafting to each cam-shaft.

11. In a duplex ruling machine, a pluing to eachl lcam-shaft, an gearing connecting the power-shafting to each conveyor, the

. in each sup gearing of one conveyor being l'arranged for change `to vary the travel of said conveyor.

l 14. In a duplex ruling machine, associated supporting means, driving means movable rting means, connections between the driving means, motor means joined to one of the driving means, a set of ruling v 4 devices movable upon each supporting means,

4 a cam device for actuating eacli'set of ruling frame, gearing connectingl devices, and a train of gearing connecting each drivin means to a cam-device. 4

15. Ina upleii rulin machine, associated frames, a driving sha t journaled in each the shafts, inotor means joined to one of e shafts, a set of pens movable upon each frame, a cam-shaft for actuating each set of pens, and a train of change-speed gearing connecting each driving shaft to a cam-shaft.

16. In a duplex rulin machine, associated frames, a driving "sha t journaled in each frame, gearing connecting the shafts, motor means joined t'o one of the shafts, a set of rulin devices movable upon each frame, a cam-iaft for actuating each set of riling devices, a conveyor for deliveringsheets to each set of ens, a train of gearing connecting each driving shaft to a cam-shaft, and a train of gearing connecting each driving shaft`to a conveyor.

17. In a duplex rulin machine, associated frames, a driving 'sha'ijournaled in-each frame, gearing connecting the shafts, motor lnism.

means joined to one of the shafts, a .setcf pens movable upon each frame, a cani-shaft for actuatingeac'h set of pens, a conveyor for delivering sheetsto each set of pens, a

ity of ruling apparatus including sets of movable pens, a cam-shaft for actuating each set of pens, transfer mechanism between the plural vruling apparatus, a driving shaft,

change-speed gearing connecting the driving 10 shaft to each cam-shaft, and gearing to a cam-shaft for operating the transfer mechato be ruled and including ruhng devices, of mechanism having a plurality of means for vfeedingI werk toward the ruling devices, and

separate means for establishing driving connections from the ruling apparatus to the reing mechanism arranged to deliver sheets from a pilepto the ruling devices, and driving connections between the actuating mechanism and feeding mechanism.

23. In a ruling machine, movable ruling devices, actuating mechanism organized to 120 control the contact of the device with the sheets to ruled, feeding mechanism arranged to deliver sheets from a pile to the ruling devices and having means to e ge and advance sheets from the pile, and riving connections between the .actuating mechanism" and advancing means.

24. The combination with a ruhng appal ratus having movable ruling devices, actuating mechanism therefor and means for ad 130 The; combination with a ruling apparatus having means acting u n the sheets 105 vancing sheets to be ruled to the ruling devices, of mechanismrprovided with a plurality of means for feeding sheets toward the advancing means, driving connections for the advancing means to one of the feeding means, and driving connections from the actuating mechanism to another of the feeding means. Y

25. The combination-with a ruling apparatus having movable ruling devices, actuating mechanism therefor and means for advancing sheets to be ruled to the ruling devices, of feeding mechanism having means Y arranged to engage and deliver sheets from a pile and means arranged to'receive sheets from. such delivering means and advance them to the advancing means of the ruling apparatus, driving connections between the advancing means of the ruling apparatusY devices, and connections from the actuating'- mechanism of such ruling deviceY to the feeding mechanism.

l27. In a ruling machine, a mevable ruling device, a cam-shaft for actuating the ruling device, feeding mechanism arranged to deliver sheets from a pile toward the ruling apparatus, and earin for driving the feeding mechanism rom t 1e cam-shaft.

28. In a ruling machine, a movable ruling i pen, a cam-shaft for actuating the pen, a

movable fanning and feeding device for `c0- operatingwith a pile of sheets, and gearing connectingthe cam-shaft and fanning and feeding device. Y .Y

29. In aruhng machine, amovable ruling pen, `a cam-shaft for actuating the pen, a

conveyor for advancing sheets beneath the pen, a movable fanning. and feeding device for co-operation with a pile of sheets, a conveyor receiving sheets fed by the fanning and feeding device and delivering them to the conveyor at the pen, gearing connecting the cam-shaft and fanning and feeding device, and gearing connecting the conveyors.

30. In a duplex ruling machine, a plurality of ruling apparatus each provided with a movable set of pens, a cam-shaft for actuating each set of pens, a system of powershafting for establishing driving connection between the plurality of apparatus, gearlng connecting the power-shafting to each camshaft, a movable fanning and feeding device Leoeas for advancing sheets from a pile toward one of the ruling apparatus, and'gearing connecting the cam-shaft of such apparatus with the fanning and feeding device.

3l. In a ruling machine, the combination with a ruling device, of means arranged to move workin engagement with the ruling device, and a yieldable pressure member contacting. with the moving work at the rear of and adjacent to the ruling device.v

32. In a ruling machine, the combination with a ruling device, of means arranged to move work in engagement with the "ruling device, a yieldable pressure member contacting with the moving work at the rear of and adjacent to the ruling device, and means arranged to permit the position of the pressure member to be varied.

33. In a ruling machine, the combination with a ruling device, of means arranged to moveV work in engagement wit-h the ruling device, a yieldable pressure member contactadjacent to the ruling device, and means arranged to permit the degree of pressure of the member upon the work to be varied.

34. In a ruling machine, the combination with a ruling device, of afstationary support situated adjacentY thereto, and a pressure member variable in position upon the support and contacting with the work in proximity to the ruling device.

35. In a ruling machine, the combination with a set of ruling pens and a conveyor vfor moving sheets to be ruled in engagement with the pens, of a rod extending adjacent to the set of pens, and a finger mounted upon the rod for cooperation with the conveyor.

36. In a ruling machine, the combination with a set of ruling pens and a conveyor for moving sheets to be ruled .in engagement with the pens, of a rod extending adjacent to the set of pens, a holder adjustable upon the rod, and a finger carried by the holder for co-operation with the conveyor.

37. In a ruling machine, the combination with a set of ruling pens and a conveyor for moving sheets to be ruled in engagement with the pens, of a cylindrical rod extending adj acent to theset of pens, a holder formed to turn upon the rod, a set-screw threaded through the holder and engaging the rod, and a spring-linger carried by the holder.

38. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of ruling devices, means4 for advancing sheets successively to the sets of ruling devices, and members for contact with the sheets co-operatng 'with the advancingYY means adjacent to each set of ruling devices,

lng with the moving work at the rear of and Y,

such membersY at the differenty sets of rulingV i devices being Yconstructed and arranged to produce different effects upon the sheets.

39. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of peps, a conveyor presenting sheets successively to the action of the sets, springingers of substantial width co-operating with the conveyor adjacent to the set of pens to which the sheets are rst presented, and more narrow spring-fingers co-operatlng with the conveyor adjacent to a succeeding set.

l0. In a ruling machine, a pluralit)v of sets of pens, a` conveyor presenting sheets successively to the action of the sets, spring-iingers of substantial Width co-operating with the conveyor adjacent to the set of pens to which the sheets are fiist presented, more narrow spring-lingers cpo-operating with the conveyor adjacent' to a succeeding set, and means arranged to permit the lingers to be and toward and froni the conveyor.

Signed at Boston, 1n the county of Suffolk adjusted longitudinallyv of the sets of. pens and State of Massachusetts, this first day 20 of August, 1923.

HARMON E. LINDBLADH. 

